Fly swatter



Dec; 28. 1926. W. B. ELLSWORTH FLY SWATTER Filed March 29, 1926 @Illl.

Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

unrrs STATES PATENT o-rrics.

WILLIAM B. "ELLS'WOR'li-L OF HUDSON, OHIO, ASSIGNGR OE ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM ADELBERT ELLSVJORTIEI, OF HUDSON, OHIO.

FLY SWATTER.

Application filed March 29, 1926.

The invention relates to improvements in fly swatters ot the general type provided with a long staff, so that they may etfectively be used for kill ng flies upon ceilings or upon the upper portions of walls, and it is the objectof the invention to provide a new and improved device of this character in which there is no danger of mashing the flies against the wall or ceiling and consequently staining the same.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawin Fig.

Fig.

Fig

is a perspective view. is an upper end view.

is a sectional view on the plane indicated by line 3-8 of Fig. 2.

The numeral 5 on the drawing designates an elongated stafl or handle whose upper end carries a swatting head 6. This head comprises a not-tom member 7 having a continuous upstanding flange 8 at its periphery, and a covering 9 of screen wire passing over the upper edge of said flange, said covering having its edges turned downwardly and secured by tacks or the like 10 to the bottom 7, this bottom being preferably formed from wood, while the flange 8 is by preference provided by the vertical flange of an angle metal strip, the horizontal flange of this strip being secured upon the bottom 7 by tacks or other suitable fasteners 11. ing 12 of some suitable cushioning material, preferably surrounds the clown-turned edge portions of the covering 9 and may well be secured to the bottom 7 by the fasteners 10. This bottom is preferably formed with a plurality of openings 7 through which air may pass so that the movement of the head 6 will not be unduly retarded thereby, and this passage of air causes effective ventilation of the device for sanitary purposes.

Preferably, the head 6 is adjustably connected with the stafl 5, so that it may be swung to any desired angular relation therewith, for most eflfective use. This adjustable connection by preference includes a screw-threaded pivot and clamping device 13 which when loosened permits easy angling ot the head (-3 with respect to the staff 5, but when tightened, holds the head in adjusted position. Moreover, the device 13 may be so set as to establish a frictional connection A bind- Serial No. 98,260.

between the head and stafl, permitting easy adjustment of said head and then holding it in adjusted position. without either loosening or tightening said device. In the preferred construction, a wooden stub 14 is secured to and projects downwardly from the center of the bottom 7, and to secure this stub and bottom together, the "former is preterably provided with an integral stud 15 secured by glue or the like in a socket 16 in said bottom. The lower end of the stub 14 is bifurcated to provide a pair of ears 17 which receive between them, an upstanding ear 18 on the staff 5, the adjusting device 13 being passed through the three ears. This adjusting device may either be in the form of a thumb screw or a bolt having a wing nut 19.

By providing the novel construction shown and described, a fly swatter is provided which is of extreme simplicity, yet will be very easy to operate and efficient. By providing the flange 8 of very thin material, it is insured that it shall not crush a fly against a wall or ceiling it struck by the portion of the covering 9 directly engaging said flange, and obviously, it' any other portion of the covering strikes the fly, said covering will yield toward the bottom 7.

Excellentresults have been obtained from the details disclosed and they are therefore preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

In operating the device to kill a fly upon a ceiling, the staff is loosely held in one hand with the head 6 spaced below the ceilin and with the forefingers and thumb of the other hand, the staff is thrust upwardly and then slides through the first mentioned hand, so that a quick, sharp blow is delivered.

I claim 1. In a fly swatter, a bottom having an upstanding continuous annular flange, said flange being one flange of an angle metal strip which is secured upon said bottom; a flexible covering spaced upwardly from said bottom and extending across the free edge of said flange, the edge portions of said covering being turned downwa dly, and means securing said downwardly turned edge portions of said covering to said bottom.

2. A fly swatter comprising a stafl having an ear at its upper end, a swatting head above said staff, said head having a bottom tit) provided with a socket a downwardly projecting stub having a reduced stud fixedly engaged with said socket and having ears straddling the first named ear, and a screwthreaded clamping device passing through the three ears and Serving as a pivot about which the head may be turned with respect to the staff.

3. A fly swatter comprising a sWatting head, said head having a bottom, an upstanding flange around the edge of said bottom and secured thereto, a flexible fabric covering spaced upwardly from said bottom and having its edges turned over said flange and secured to the edges of said bottom, a staif comprising a relatively shortupper section secured in the underside of said bottom, and a relatively long handle section and means for pivotally connecting said sections whereby said upper section and head may be angled and secured in an angled position.

fixed my signature.

lVILLIAM B. ELLSWORTH 

